Structural Integrity of New and Aging Metallic Aircraft

This course presents both fundamental concepts and practical instruction in methods for fatigue, durability, and damage tolerance analysis/testing of metallic aircraft structures. The lectures emphasize the use of modern fatigue and fracture mechanics technology in the design of durable, damage-tolerant aircraft structures and the extended safe use of aging aircraft.

The course opens with a discussion of basic fatigue and fracture behavior of structural metallic materials. With this background, the ensuing lectures detail the structural methods used in the aircraft industry to develop fatigue loading spectra, as well as fatigue life, crack growth, and residual strength analyses. The course also explores the application of this technology to verify the structural integrity and longevity of new aircraft, along with life monitoring, maintenance, and life extension of aging aircraft.